French team Agen have been banned from European competition for two seasons after bringing the game into disrepute with their poor performance in the European Shield clash at Ebbw Vale last month.
Ebbw Vale had to win the Group One clash on January 12th by eight tries to progress into the quarter-finals of the competition. They managed the unlikely, brushing aside the French title contenders 59-10 and running in nine tries to the visitors' one.
In addition to being excluded from European action for the seasons 2002-3 and 2003-04, the French club were fined €20,000 by a disciplinary committee convened by tournament organisers ERC.
The disciplinary committee, chairman Peter Boyle (Ireland), Jack Kirwan (Ireland) and Mick Dickson (England) upheld the misconduct complaint that Agen contrived to achieve a particular result. The team have the right of appeal.
Meanwhile, France coach Bernard Laporte claims his side's confidence has never been higher as they prepare to take on England in the Six Nations Championship in the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday week.
Laporte's men overwhelmed Italy three weeks ago and squeezed past Wales in Cardiff last weekend to extend their unbeaten run to five following a successful autumn campaign, which saw them beat South Africa, Australia and Fiji.
Laporte has recalled captain Fabien Galthie and Olivier Magne, who had been suspended for 23 days for stamping on an Italian player's head during France's opener on February 2nd, for the potential Grand Slam decider.
Stade Francais scrumhalf Galthie missed France's two previous matches with a knee injury and the French coach will watch him in the Top 16 league game against Dax before naming his final starting line-up on Tuesday morning.
"We will see whether we can rely on him or not because we do not want to take risks," Laporte added.
"Fabien has only played three games since January and if he does not feel ready to play the full match we cannot risk him from the start."
Toulouse full-back Nicolas Jeanjean is still suffering from the thigh injury he picked up against Italy and has been ruled out. Also missing are Clement Poitrenaud (thigh) and Frederic Michalak (shoulder).
